# Irving Langmuir

> American chemist and physicist (1881–1957)

**Wikidata**: [Q184286](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184286)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Langmuir)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/irving-langmuir

## Summary
Irving Langmuir was an American chemist and physicist whose work spanned the fields of chemistry, physics, and meteorology. He is best known for his pioneering research in surface chemistry, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and for his long-term association with General Electric. His contributions include the development of the Langmuir probe, the Langmuir adsorption model, and foundational concepts in plasma physics.

## Biography
- **Born:** January 31, 1881
- **Died:** August 16, 1957
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** University of Göttingen
- **Known for:** Surface chemistry, plasma physics, the Langmuir probe, and the Langmuir adsorption model
- **Employer(s):** General Electric
- **Field(s):** Chemistry, physics, meteorology, academic research

## Contributions
Irving Langmuir's scientific output includes the invention of the **Langmuir probe**, a device used to measure electron temperature and density in plasma. He developed the **Langmuir adsorption model**, an equation that relates the coverage or adsorption of molecules on a solid surface to gas pressure or concentration at a fixed temperature. His work also led to the identification of **plasma oscillation**, describing rapid oscillations of electron density in conducting media such as plasmas or metals. He contributed to laboratory instrumentation with the **Langmuir–Blodgett trough**. Additionally, the **Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics** was established in 1931 in recognition of interdisciplinary research in the fields he influenced.

## FAQs
**What is Irving Langmuir most famous for discovering?**
Langmuir is most famous for his discoveries and investigations in surface chemistry, specifically the adsorption of gases on solid surfaces, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

**Where did Irving Langmuir work?**
He was affiliated with General Electric, a major American multinational conglomerate where he conducted significant research.

**What scientific instruments or models are named after Irving Langmuir?**
Several scientific concepts and tools bear his name, including the Langmuir probe (for measuring plasma), the Langmuir adsorption model (for surface chemistry), the Langmuir–Blodgett trough (laboratory equipment), and the concept of plasma oscillation.

**Which prestigious academies did Irving Langmuir belong to?**
He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Royal Society, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the American Philosophical Society.

**What awards did Irving Langmuir receive during his career?**
He received numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the William H. Nichols Medal, the Hughes Medal, the Rumford Prize, the Perkin Medal, the Willard Gibbs Award, the Holley Medal, the Franklin Medal, the John Scott Award, the Faraday Lectureship Prize, the Faraday Medal, and the John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science.

## Why They Matter
Irving Langmuir matters because his work fundamentally advanced the understanding of surface chemistry and plasma physics, bridging the gap between theoretical science and industrial application. His development of the Langmuir adsorption model provided a mathematical framework for understanding how gases interact with solid surfaces, which is crucial for catalysis and material science. The invention of the Langmuir probe remains a standard technique for plasma diagnostics in laboratory and space physics. His legacy is further cemented by the establishment of the Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics, which continues to honor excellence in the intersection of chemistry and physics. Geographic features, including a lunar crater and a cove, are named after him, signifying the global recognition of his impact.

## Notable For
- **Nobel Prize in Chemistry:** Awarded for discoveries and investigations in surface chemistry.
- **Langmuir Probe:** Invention of a device used to measure plasma parameters.
- **Langmuir Adsorption Model:** Development of a fundamental equation relating surface coverage to pressure.
- **General Electric Career:** Long-term affiliation and research contributions at the major conglomerate.
- **Plasma Physics Research:** Identification and description of plasma oscillations.
- **Academic Awards:** Recipient of the Nichols Medal, Hughes Medal, Rumford Prize, Perkin Medal, Gibbs Award, Holley Medal, Franklin Medal, John Scott Award, Faraday Lectureship Prize, Faraday Medal, and John J. Carty Award.
- **National Inventors Hall of Fame:** Inducted into this prestigious American award for inventors.
- **Academy Memberships:** Held fellowships or memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, Royal Society, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Physical Society, and American Philosophical Society.
- **Eponyms:** The lunar crater "Langmuir," "Langmuir Cove," and the "Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics" are named in his honor.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Irving Langmuir was born on January 31, 1881, in the United States. He pursued his higher education at the University of Göttingen in Germany, an institution with a significant history and academic reputation. His educational background laid the foundation for his dual career as a chemist and physicist.

### Career at General Electric
Langmuir was professionally affiliated with General Electric (GE), an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892. During his tenure at GE, which was formed from the merger of Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company, Langmuir engaged in research that contributed to the company's reputation for technological innovation. His work at GE exemplified the integration of scientific research within an industrial context.

### Scientific Research and Inventions
Langmuir's research encompassed several distinct areas of physical science. In the field of surface chemistry, he developed the Langmuir adsorption model, a critical equation that describes the saturation of binding sites on a surface. This work was central to his receipt of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

In physics, specifically plasma physics, Langmuir invented the Langmuir probe, a device used to measure the electron temperature, electron density, and electric potential of a plasma. He also described plasma oscillations, which are rapid oscillations of electron density in conducting media. Additionally, he contributed to the development of laboratory equipment through the Langmuir–Blodgett trough.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Langmuir accumulated a vast array of prestigious awards. He was a recipient of the William H. Nichols Medal, the Hughes Medal awarded by the Royal Society of London, and the Rumford Prize. He also received the Perkin Medal for industrial chemical research, the Willard Gibbs Award, and the Holley Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Other significant honors included the Franklin Medal from the Franklin Institute, the John Scott Award, the Faraday Lectureship Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Faraday Medal awarded by the IET. He was honored with the John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and was inucted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

### Professional Memberships
Langmuir was recognized by numerous learned societies and academies globally. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and the Royal Society (United Kingdom). He also held membership in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the American Philosophical Society.

### Legacy and Eponyms
The impact of Langmuir's work is reflected in the various scientific concepts and geographic locations named after him. The "Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics" was established in 1931 to recognize interdisciplinary research. In geography, "Langmuir Cove" and the lunar impact crater "Langmuir" serve as permanent tributes to his contributions to science. He is also associated with Gilbert N. Lewis, another prominent American physical chemist, highlighting his standing among the key figures in the chemical sciences of his time. Langmuir passed away on August 16, 1957.

## References

1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
2. [Curriculum Vitae Prof. Dr. Irving Langmuir](https://www.leopoldina.org/fileadmin/redaktion/Mitglieder/CV_Langmuir_Irving_D.pdf)
3. [Irving Langmuir. 1974](https://www.nasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/langmuir-irving.pdf)
4. [Irving Langmuir. 2008](https://nariphaltan.org/langmuir.pdf)
5. [Nichols Medalists](https://www.newyorkacs.org/nicholsmedalists.html)
6. [Rumford Prize Recipients](https://www.amacad.org/rumford-prize-recipients)
7. [Source](https://chicagoacs.org/Willard_Gibbs_Award)
8. [The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1932. nobelprize.org](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1932/summary/)
9. [Table showing prize amounts. Nobel Foundation. 2019](https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2019/04/prize-amounts-2020.pdf)
10. [Holley Medal](https://www.asme.org/about-asme/honors-awards/achievement-awards/holley-medal)
11. Complete List of Royal Society Fellows 1660-2007
12. [Source](https://thejohnscottaward.github.io/jsc/1901-1950.html)
13. National Inventors Hall of Fame
14. Mathematics Genealogy Project
15. International Standard Name Identifier
16. Virtual International Authority File
17. CiNii Research
18. NNDB
19. Integrated Authority File
20. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
21. SNAC
22. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
23. BnF authorities
24. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
25. Croatian Encyclopedia
26. Munzinger Personen
27. La France savante
28. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
29. [Irving Langmuir. Photo gallery](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1932/langmuir/photo-gallery/)
30. nobelprize.org
31. CONOR.SI